Anisodontea plant named ‘IB609-3’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Anisodontea capensis  plant named ‘IB609-3’ which is characterized by a compact, densely-foliaged growth, an abundance of light red-purple flowers with a dark red-purple center, dark red-purple floral veins, and the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Anisodontea capensis.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Anisodontea capensis disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘IB609-3’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘IB609-3’ is a seedling selection resulting from the controlled cross pollination of Anisodontea capensis ‘Dryspell Raspberry’ (not patented), the seed parent, with Anisodontea capensis ‘El Royo’ (not patented), the pollen parent. In the late summer of 2016, the above pollination occurred at the breeding site located in Wonga Park, Victoria, Australia. Seeds were collected from ‘Dryspell Raspberry’, sown, and seedlings were grown out to maturity, during the spring of 2016. One of the resulting plants was observed to exhibit medium to dense foliage, and shorter plant height, as well as an abundance of two-toned flowers. The seedling was isolated for further evaluation to confirm the distinctness and stability of the characteristics first observed. Upon confirmation of distinctness and stability, ‘IB609-3’ was selected for commercialization.

Asexual Reproduction: ‘IB609-3’ was first asexually reproduced by way of softwood stem cuttings in the spring of 2016 at the inventor's nursery in Wonga Park, Victoria, Australia. Through eight subsequent generations, the unique features of this cultivar have proven to be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics have been repeatedly observed and represent the distinguishing characteristics of the new Anisodontea capensis plant, ‘IB609-3’. These traits, in combination, distinguish ‘IB609-3’ as a new and distinct cultivar.

-   -   1. ‘IB6609-3’ exhibits a compact and densely-foliaged growth         habit; and     -   2. ‘IB6609-3’ exhibits an abundance of flowers; and     -   3. ‘IB6609-3’ exhibits red-purple flower petals which are a         considerably darker shade of red-purple at and near the base;         and     -   4. ‘IB6609-3’ exhibits flower petals which are veined dark         red-purple.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURE

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary mature ‘IB609-3’ plant grown outdoors in Wonga Park, Victoria, Australia.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, exemplary flowers of a mature ‘IB609-3’ plant grown outdoors in Wonga Park, Victoria, Australia.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements were made in August of 2022 and describe a 6-month-old ‘IB609-3’ plant grown outdoors in Greeleyville, S.C., in a 15 cm nursery container. The plant was allowed to grow with full sun exposure and maintained with regular overhead irrigation and slow-release granular fertilizer applications. Preventative disease and pest control measures were utilized in production.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘IB609-3’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental, climactic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 1986 (third edition).

A botanical description of ‘IB609-3’ and comparisons with the parents and most similar variety of common knowledge are provided below.

-   General plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Evergreen sub-shrub.         -   Plant profile.—Upright globular.         -   Height.—71.0 cm from the soil level to the top of the foliar             plane.         -   Plant spread.—49.0 cm.         -   Plant vigor.—Moderately vigorous.         -   Propagation type.—Softwood stem cuttings.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 50 to 60             days to produce a rooted cutting at approximately 30 degrees             Celsius.         -   Time to produce a finished plant.—24 weeks to produce a             well-rooted 15 cm container.         -   Disease resistance.—Neither resistance nor susceptibility to             typical Anisodontea pests and diseases has been observed.         -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 9             through 11; moderate tolerance to rain; moderate tolerance             to wind; drought tolerant once established. -   Root system:     -   -   General.—Densely and freely branched rooting; roots are             moderately fibrous.         -   Distribution in the soil profile.—Shallow to moderately             deep. -   Stem:     -   -   General branching habit.—Multiple main stems, freely             branching from the base, with an abundance of lateral             branches.         -   Quantity of main stems per plant.—5.         -   Diameter of the main stem.—1.1 cm at the base.         -   Abundance of lateral branches.—Abundant.         -   Length of lateral branches.—Approximately 37.0 cm.         -   Diameter of lateral branches.—Approximately 6.5 mm.         -   Internode length.—Ranging from 3.5 to 4.75 cm.         -   Attitude of lateral branches.—Upright and slightly outward.         -   Aspect.—Rounded.         -   Texture, juvenile.—Densely pubescent.         -   Texture, mature.—Moderately pubescent.         -   Texture, oldest wood.—Glabrous.         -   Luster.—Slightly glossy to matte.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Color, juvenile lateral branches.—Yellow-green, nearest to             RHS 145A, and becoming progressively suffused with             greyed-purple with age, RHS 183C.         -   Color, mature lateral branches.—Greyed-purple, nearest to             RHS 183C.         -   Color, oldest wood.—Nearest to a mixture of greyed-orange             and grey-brown, RHS 165B and 199A. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Division.—Simple.         -   Shape.—Palmate.         -   Aspect.—Nearly flat.         -   Attitude.—Outward.         -   Length.—46.0 mm.         -   Width.—41.0 mm.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Truncate.         -   Margins.—Dentate; ciliate.         -   Texture and pubescence, adaxial surface.—Somewhat bullate             and glabrous except for the veins which are pubescent.         -   Texture and pubescence, abaxial surface.—Somewhat bullate             and glabrous except for the veins which are pubescent.         -   Luster, adaxial surface.—Slightly glossy.         -   Luster, abaxial surface.—Slightly glossy.         -   Color.—Juvenile foliage color, adaxial surface —             Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144A. Juvenile foliage color,             abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144B. Mature             leaf color, adaxial surface — Green, nearest to RHS 137C.             Mature leaf color, abaxial surface — Green, nearest to RHS             137D.         -   Venation.—Type — Reticulate. Vein color, adaxial surface —             Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144B. Vein color, abaxial             surface — Yellow-green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 146A and             146B.         -   Petiole.—Length — 14.0 mm. Diameter — 3.0 mm. Strength —             Strong. Texture, adaxial and abaxial surfaces — Pubescent.             Luster, adaxial and abaxial surfaces — Matte. Color —             Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 145A, and becoming             progressively suffused with greyed-purple with age, RHS             183C.         -   Stipules.—General — Two stipules are present at the base of             each leaf. Shape — Narrowly deltoid. Length — 7.5 mm. Width             — 4.0 mm at the widest point. Aspect — Concave. Apex —             Acute. Base — Truncate. Margin — Entire; no undulation.             Texture, adaxial — Pubescent. Texture, abaxial — Pubescent.             Luster — Matte on both the adaxial and abaxial surfaces.             Color, adaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to in between             RHS 145B and 145C, and margined greyed-purple, RHS 184A.             Color, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, RHS 1456, and             margined greyed- purple, RHS 184A. -   Inflorescence: No inflorescences; flowers borne singularly or in     pairs at leaf axils. -   Flower buds:     -   -   Shape.—Obovoid, with a pointed apex; pentangulate.         -   Length.—23.0 mm.         -   Diameter.—16.5 mm.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Luster.—Slightly glossy.         -   Color.—Yellow-green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 144A and             144B, and suffused with greyed-purple, RHS 183B, along the             margins and apices of the closed sepals. -   Flowers:     -   -   Shape, type.—Rotate, with a single whorl of petals; petals             overlapping.         -   Attachment.—Pedicellate.         -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering from late spring through             Autumn in USDA Hardiness Zone 9.         -   Attitude.—Outward.         -   Flower longevity on plant.—Approximately 5 days.         -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-cleaning.         -   Fragrance.—Non-fragrant.         -   Diameter.—Diameter of the corolla is 58.0 mm.         -   Depth.—Depth of the corolla is 26.0 mm.         -   Pedicels.—Length — 18.5 mm. Width — 4.0 mm at the base.             Strength — Moderately strong. Texture — Pubescent. Color —             Yellow-green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 144C and 145A, and             moderately suffused with greyed-red at anthesis, nearest to             RHS 1856.         -   Calyx.—Shape — Rotate. Depth — 18.5 mm. Diameter — 22.5 mm.             Sepals — Quantity — 5. Shape — Deltoid. Dimensions — 17.0 mm             long and 9.0 mm wide at the widest point. Apex — Acute. Base             — Fused. Margin — Entire. Texture — Pubescent. Luster —             Matte. Color — Yellow-green, nearest to a mixture of RHS             144C and 145A, and heavily suffused with greyed-red at             anthesis, nearest to RHS 185B.         -   Episepals.—Quantity — 3. Shape — Narrowly deltoid.             Dimensions — 9.5 mm long and 3.0 mm wide at the base. Apex —             Acute. Base — Fused. Margin — Entire. Texture — Pubescent.             Luster — Matte. Color — Yellow-green, nearest to a mixture             of RHS 144C and 145A, and margined with greyed-red at             anthesis, nearest to RHS 1856.         -   Petals.—Quantity — 5. Arrangement — Rotate. Length —             26.0 mm. Width — 28.0 mm. Shape — Near-obcordate. Aspect —             Petals are somewhat reflexed at anthesis. Apex — Retuse.             Base — Attenuate. Margin — Entire; very light undulation.             Texture, inner surface — Glabrous; coriaceous. Texture,             outer surface — Glabrous; coriaceous. Petal color — When             opening, outer surface — Red-purple, nearest to RHS 68A;             base of the petal is red-purple, nearest to RHS 67C. Fully             opened, inner surface — Red-purple, nearest to a combination             of RHS 68B, 68C, and 65D yet generally appearing as 68C;             base of the petal is red-purple, nearest to in between RHS             61B and 61C. Fully opened, lower surface — Red-purple, a             mixture of RHS 68B and 68C; base of the petal is red-purple,             nearest to RHS 67C. Petal venation color — Pattern —             Reticulate. Inner surface — Red-purple, nearest to in             between RHS 61B and 61C. Outer surface — Red-purple, nearest             to RHS 67C. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Staminal column.—Description — A staminal column bears an             abundance of stamens along its distal portion and terminates             with a lobed pistil; the style is enveloped within the             staminal column. Length — 12.5 mm, excluding the lobed             stigma. Width — 3.5 mm. Color — Yellow-white at the base,             nearest to RHS 158C, and becoming progressively suffused             with red-purple, distally, RHS 67B.         -   Androecium.—Stamens — Quantity — Approximately 75. Anthers —             Attachment — Dorsifixed. Shape — Globular. Dimensions — 1.0             mm long and 0.75 to 1.0 mm wide. Color — Nearest to in             between black and dark purple, RHS 202A and 79A, yet nearer             to black. Filaments — Length — 7.5 mm. Diameter — 0.75 mm.             Color — Red-purple, RHS 65B. Amount of Pollen — Moderately             abundant. Pollen color — Greyed-yellow, nearest to RHS 162C.         -   Gynoecium.—Pistil — Quantity — One. Length — 15.0 mm. Style             — Not visible within the staminal column. Stigma — Shape —             Lobed, with approximately 12 lobes. Length — 8.5 mm. Width —             10.0 mm across the stigma lobes. Color— Red-purple, RHS 67B.             Ovary position — Superior. -   Seed and fruit: Seeds not observed.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENT PLANTS

Plants of the new cultivar ‘IB609-3’ differ from the seed parent and most similar variety known to the inventor, Anisodontea capensis ‘Dryspell Raspberry’ (not patented), in the following characteristics described in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘IB609-3’ ‘Dryspell Raspberry’ Growth habit. More compact and Less compact and less densely foliaged. densely foliaged. General coloration Red-purple with a dark Dark red-purple. of the corolla. red-purple center.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘IB609-3’ differ from the pollen parent, Anisodontea capensis ‘El Royo’ (not patented), in the following characteristics described in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘IB609-3’ ‘El Royo’ Plant height. Shorter than the pollen Taller than ‘IB609-3’. ‘El Royo’. Foliage size. Smaller than ‘El Royo’. Larger than ‘IB609-3’. Flower size. Smaller than ‘El Royo’. Larger than ‘IB609-3’.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘IB609-3’ differ from the most similar variety of common knowledge, Anisodontea capensis ‘New Princess’ (not patented), in the following characteristics described in Table 3 below.

TABLE 3 Characteristic ‘IB609-3’ ‘New Princess’ Plant height. Shorter than Taller than ‘IB609-3’. ‘New Princess’. Flower size. Larger than ‘IB609-5’. Smaller than ‘IB609-3’. General coloration A darker shade of A lighter shade of of the floral veins. red-purple, relative to red-purple, relative ‘New Princess’. to ‘IB609-3’. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Anisodontea capensis plant named ‘IB609-3’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 